Chalace Lauria
Paul Turtola
English 063
November 12, 2009 Should Parents Drug Test Their Children?
As kids start to grow up, parents become more nervous wondering what their child is doing in his or her spare time. Most kids are out playing sports, some watch TV, and other are doing things that they shouldn’t be. Each day more and more kids are being hooked on drugs by friends or older kids trying to sell some. So, should parents drug test their kids? Many feel they have the right to do whatever they want considering it is their child but in the end, does it really help?
Testing your kids can end up becoming a missed opportunity. While parents are trying to figure out a game plan for solving the problem the child is also figuring out a plan of their own. By trying to solve the drug problem inside the home, it is delaying professional help. In an article written by Lindsay Lyon she talks about a family who was affected by teen drug use. The Manloves’ discovered that their son was abusing pot and alcohol so they bought a home drug test kit. After a while his drug levels were decreasing so they thought he quit but little did they know he switched to a different drug. When they realized what happened, they enrolled him in treatment but ultimately, it was too late. David died at age sixteen of a heart attack. "That delay really worked against us," Manlove says. "If we had sought professional help earlier, I think we would have had a better chance of preventing this outcome."
Cheating a drug test for a teen is probably almost as easy as cheating on a test in school. The problem for parents is that many don’t know all the tricks on how to cheat or even alter a test. The most common way to cheat is to tamper, only need a splash of bleach, vinegar, or even detergent. The easiest way to cheat however would probably be by drinking a massive amount of water. By drinking as much water as possible it dilutes a drug so it can go undetected. The last thing a parent would probably think of is switching urine samples but kids do it all the time. Parents just want to think the best of their children so it’s best to have professionals do the testing.
Being a parent is a very special thing including a great bond with your kids. Trying to act like the police can ruin that bond in only moments. Once the trust is broken it can never fully heal. Home tests are very misleading and should be left to the professionals because in time the teen will understand that this is only being done because of love. The best thing that can be done is to just talk and educate everyone on the dangers of substance abuse. Talking everything out should end well instead of jumping to conclusions and forcing a home drug test on someone.
In conclusion, parents should not drug test their children. Forcing a drug test can be a missed opportunity, its easy to cheat, and damages a parental bond. The best thing a parent can do is to have professionals involved.
Paul Turtola
English 063
November 12, 2009
Should Parents Drug Test Their Children?
As kids start to grow up, parents become more nervous wondering what their child is doing in his or her spare time. Most kids are out playing sports, some watch TV, and other are doing things that they shouldn’t be. Each day more and more kids are being hooked on drugs by friends or older kids trying to sell some. So, should parents drug test their kids? Many feel they have the right to do whatever they want considering it is their child but in the end, does it really help?
Testing your kids can end up becoming a missed opportunity. While parents are trying to figure out a game plan for solving the problem the child is also figuring out a plan of their own. By trying to solve the drug problem inside the home, it is delaying professional help. In an article written by Lindsay Lyon she talks about a family who was affected by teen drug use. The Manloves’ discovered that their son was abusing pot and alcohol so they bought a home drug test kit. After a while his drug levels were decreasing so they thought he quit but little did they know he switched to a different drug. When they realized what happened, they enrolled him in treatment but ultimately, it was too late. David died at age sixteen of a heart attack. "That delay really worked against us," Manlove says. "If we had sought professional help earlier, I think we would have had a better chance of preventing this outcome."
Cheating a drug test for a teen is probably almost as easy as cheating on a test in school. The problem for parents is that many don’t know all the tricks on how to cheat or even alter a test. The most common way to cheat is to tamper, only need a splash of bleach, vinegar, or even detergent. The easiest way to cheat however would probably be by drinking a massive amount of water. By drinking as much water as possible it dilutes a drug so it can go undetected. The last thing a parent would probably think of is switching urine samples but kids do it all the time. Parents just want to think the best of their children so it’s best to have professionals do the testing.
Being a parent is a very special thing including a great bond with your kids. Trying to act like the police can ruin that bond in only moments. Once the trust is broken it can never fully heal. Home tests are very misleading and should be left to the professionals because in time the teen will understand that this is only being done because of love. The best thing that can be done is to just talk and educate everyone on the dangers of substance abuse. Talking everything out should end well instead of jumping to conclusions and forcing a home drug test on someone.
In conclusion, parents should not drug test their children. Forcing a drug test can be a missed opportunity, its easy to cheat, and damages a parental bond. The best thing a parent can do is to have professionals involved.